Bot/Kleinmond Estuarine Management Plan Draft January 2019 Bot/Kleinmond Estuarine Management Plan i DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Document title and version: Bot/Kleinmond Estuarine Management Plan Project Name: Western Cape Estuary Management Framework and Implementation Plan Client: Western Cape Government, Department of Environmental Affairs & Development Planning Royal HaskoningDHV reference number: MD1819 Authority reference: EADP 1/2015 Compiled by: Version 1: iRAP Consulting (2009) Version 2: Royal HaskoningDHV (2018) Acknowledgements: C.A.P.E. Cape Action for People and the Environment CapeNature Western Cape Government Environmental Affairs & Development Planning Chief Directorate: Environmental Sustainability Directorate: Biodiversity and Coastal Management Email: [email protected] Date: January 2019 Bot/Kleinmond Estuarine Management Plan DOCUMENT USE Estuaries are recognised as particularly sensitive and dynamic ecosystems, and therefore require above-average care in the planning and control of activities related to their use and management. For this reason, the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act (No. 24 of 2008, as amended by Act 36 of 2014) (ICMA), via the prescriptions of the 2013 National Estuarine Management Protocol (NEMP), requires Estuarine Management Plans (EMPs)to be prepared for estuaries in order to create informed platforms for efficient and coordinated estuarine management. The NEMP, promulgated in May 2013, sets out the minimum requirements for individual EMPs. In 2013/2014, a review was conducted by the Department of Environmental Affairs: Oceans and Coasts (DEA, 2014a) on the existing management plans to ensure, inter alia, the alignment of these plans with the NEMP (2013). This revision of the Bot/Kleinmond Estuarine Management Plan, including the Situation Assessment Report (SAR) and the management plan itself, is in response to the comments received during the review process only, to ensure compliance with the minimum requirements for EMPs as per the NEMP (2013). It therefore integrates existing content (from the original EMP) with the situation as of 2017/2018. In summary, the update entailed: • Updating the terminology as per the NEMP (2013); • Including the results of the Ecological Water Requirement study; • Updating the legislative review with regards to the requirements of the ICMA and the NEMP (2013) in the SAR; • Including a summary of the SAR; • Providing a map of the geographical boundaries of the Estuarine Functional Zone; • Prioritising management actions; • Providing more detail in respect to the intended spatial zonation of the estuary; • Including a resource monitoring plan as well as a performance monitoring plan towards achieving the EMP objectives; and • Updating the description of institutional capacity and arrangements to manage elements of EMP provided as per the NEMP (2013). The work of the original authors and input received from stakeholders remains largely unchanged, although certain editorial changes and factual updates will be evident. Historical information and data remain relevant and critically important for estuarine management in the long term and must be supplemented by new information when it becomes available. This revision does not represent, or replace, the full 5-year review process required to re-evaluate the applicability of the plan and to provide new information. This full review process is therefore still urgently required and should be part of a future revision. Nonetheless, this EMP, and supporting SAR, must not be considered a once-off compilation but rather a ‘living document’ that should be regularly updated and amended as deemed necessary. Bot/Kleinmond Estuarine Management Plan iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction This document describes the plan for managing the Bot/Kleinmond estuarine system and associated wetlands, which was revised in 2016 in order to meet the minimum requirements of the NEMP (2013). The EMP sets out the Vision and key Objectives for the Bot/Kleinmond estuarine system and identifies specific Management Objectives needed to meet these key objectives, and indicates the main actions or activities required in the next five years in order to achieve the overall vision. Summary of Situation Assessment A summary of the original Situation Assessment Report (SAR) is included and provides an overview of the estuarine system and its ecological condition. In summary, the estuary is the third largest estuarine system in the Cape Floristic Region and is known also as die Vlei. Hawstonvlei or Botriviersvlei, are connected to the adjoining Bot/Kleinmond estuary via a young wetland known as Rooisand, so that they form a combined estuarine system, with water flowing in either direction between them. The diversity of habitat types within the system, and the expanse of the water body, make it unique in South Africa. The Bot River estuary is an important habitat for water birds and attracts considerable numbers of bird- watching tourists. It forms part of an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) (BirdlifeSA publication). The tourism value of the estuary is considered to be underexploited due to the limited amount of facilities and access for visitors, and the seasonal nature of current visitor use. Large lifestyle developments exist on the banks of the estuary, e.g. Benguela Cove and Arabella Estate. The Present Ecological State or PES of the Bot/Kleinmond estuarine system as determined through the Ecological Water Requirements Study (CSIR, 2011), was a Category C i.e. a moderately modified state. This state is characterised by a loss and/or change of natural habitat and biota but the basic ecosystem functions and processes remain predominantly unchanged. The major pressures contributing to the diminished health of the estuary are: little to no river inflow in summer, poor water quality, artificial breaching and over exploitation of fish. These impacts can be mitigated with very little effort. The Bot/Kleinmond estuarine system is included in the core set of estuaries that needs to be protected to meet biodiversity targets in South Africa. The National Estuarine Biodiversity Plan (Turpie et al., 2012) stipulates that 50% of the terrestrial marginal area be protected from development and excessive use, that a portion of the estuary be declared a no-take area, and that the estuary be managed to an improved state, with a Recommended Ecological Water Requirement Category of B (largely natural with few modifications). The recommended flow scenario is the Present day, which entails current flow reaching the estuary (MAR 72 x106 m3) with an improvement in summer baseflows (i.e. 0.15 x106 m3 per month in summer). The Bot River estuary is an important habitat for water birds and attracts considerable numbers of bird-watching tourists with more than 118 species recorded. Notable is the large number of red-knobbed coot Fulicia cristata, as many as 36,000 at times. Application for Ramsar status is on-going. Provision for bird sanctuary areas has been made in the estuary zonation plan relating to recreational use of the estuarine environment. Activities in and Bot/Kleinmond Estuarine Management Plan iv around the estuary include: Hiking, Canoeing, Kite surfing, Horse riding, Boating (motor and oars), Sailing, Birding, Water-skiing, Windsurfing, Swimming, Powerboating, Surfing, Fishing, and Wakeboarding. Issues of global, national and regional significance are then detailed with additional information provided in respect to livelihoods and compliance as well as urban development. Water quality and flow, catchment management, tourism development, exploitation or natural value and recreation, social sustainability and monitoring and evaluation is discussed. The SAR concludes with a proposed framework as well as recommended management tools which include: • A co-operative management structure; • A compliance strategy; • Resource Directed Measures (RDM) (completed in 2011); • A catchment-wide Riparian Buffer; • A conservation plan; • A mouth management plan; • A community-based resource management programme focused around the fish resource (this is no longer applicable since the advent of the DAFF Small Scale Fisheries Policy); • A monitoring, evaluation and reporting programme; and • Environmental Management Overlay Zones (replaces the proposed Spatial Conservation and Development Framework and the Coastal Planning Scheme). Vision and Objectives The vision statement for the long-term future state of the estuary is proposed as follows: “The Bot/Kleinmond estuarine system and associated wetlands form a unique, biologically diverse and productive ecosystem. It is one of South Africa’s most important nursery areas for the marine fish that sustain our fisheries. The tranquil quality of this natural environment makes it a popular recreation place for local families, fishers and nature-lovers and a sought-after destination for eco-tourists. Management of the estuaries takes place in partnership with the local community and all spheres of government”. The vision for the Bot/Kleinmond estuarine system can be achieved through four key objectives, representing different groups of issues that need to be addressed. These key objectives are: • Social, institutional & governance : Participants in EMP implementation are engaged and capacitated; • Water quantity & quality: Estuarine health is improved through effective management of water quality and provision of adequate water supply; • Fish resource priority area: Critical